Arucian football

Chausse
Calcetto

Highest governing body	Association Arucien de Chausse (AAC)
Nicknames	Arucian football Football
First played	19th century, Sainte-Chloé
Clubs	2,500
Characteristics
Contact	Limited
Team members	15 per team
Mixed gender	Separate competitions
Type	Team sport Outdoor
Equipment	Arucian football
Venue	Arucian football field
Presence
Country or region	Asterias (especially in the Arucian nations)

Chausse (IPA: [ʃos]) in Gaullican, commonly known as Arucian football in Estmerish, is a contact sport played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score by catching the ball close to the opposing team's goal, or by kicking the ball into it, which both score 6 points.

During general play, players may position themselves anywhere on the field and use any part of their bodies to move the ball. Running and passing the ball are the primary methods of advancing the ball. A distinctive feature of the game is the mark, uncontested possession that is awarded when a player catches the ball from a kick with certain conditions. The rules limit how the ball can be handled during play; for example, players cannot pick the ball off the ground or continuously run with the ball without bouncing the ball off their leg. Outside of scoring, the ball going out of bounds, marks, and penalty kicks, possession of the ball is in play at all times. Players can tackle using their hands when opposing players are running with the ball or use their body to obstruct opponents. The game is fast paced with frequent marks, fast movement, and high scoring.

The sport's origin can be traced to football matches played at the University of Sainte-Chloé in the 1860s, although the exact origins of the sport is unknown. As part of the Holistique movement, university staff used the game to promote exercise and team building skills for students. In response to the growing popularity of the sport, officials at Sainte-Chloé published the first Arucian football code in 1871. The game spread throughout the Gaullician colonies in the Asterias in the following decades. The game further spread around the Arucian by seafarers who picked up the game.

Arucian football is predominantly played in the Asterias, especially in the countries of the Arucian Sea. It is widely played and watched sport in Sainte-Chloé, Carucere, Imagua and the Assimas, Île d'Émeraude, Bonaventura, Satucin, Ardesia, and Eldmark. The sport is governed by the AAF Commission of the Arucian Football Association. It runs the Arucian Cup, the premier professional international competition for Arucian football, which consist of eligible teams from domestic professional leagues across the Arucian and surrounding nations.

Etymology

In its native Gaullican, the sport is known as Chausse. It originally meant to kick with a foot before it was applied to a kicking game. The term is derived from the Solarian word calx ("ankle" or "heel"). This term and its creole derivatives, are most commonly used across the Gaullophone Arucian. Due to the geographical breadth of the sport across multiple countries speaking several different languages, it is known by several different terms. The game is known as Calcetto (IPA: [kalˈt͡ʃet.to]) in Vespasian, based on the same root word. In Estmerish, Chausse is usually translated as football, but in order to differentiate the sport from association football or other codes of football, it is usually referred to as Arucian football.

Rules

Field

Diagram of a Arucian football pitch

Arucian football playing fields at the professional level are rectangular shaped and are typically around 130 meters long and 78 meters wide with some minor variations. Lines are marked at distances of near mid field and near the quarter of the field. There are goalposts at each end, formed by two posts set 6.5 m (21 ft) apart, and connected 2.3 m (7.54 ft) above the ground by a crossbar. A net extending behind the goal is attached to the crossbar and goal posts. Around both goals is the goal zone marked by an outer and inner zone which are marked by a semi-circle 15 and 5 meters respectively. the goal line on both sides of the field. Lines are marked 45 meters, 35 meters out. The mark line is drawn 15 meters from each goal line at both ends of the field.

Teams

Unlike association football, there is no offsides rule and players can be placed anywhere on the field. Teams consist of fifteen players plus up to fifteen substitutes, of which six may be used. Typically players are divided three general positions, the forwards, midfielders (also known as the center), and the defenders (also known as backs). The fluid nature of the modern game means the positions in are not as formally defined as in sports. Nevertheless most players will play in one of the three categories as each category requires a particular set of skills.

• The Forwards are further divided into the full-forwards and half-forwards, which both form the core of the attack. Half-forwards build up attacks and to feed the ball to the full-forward line and also taking shots on goal or above the bar when opportunities present themselves, usually they are agile and capable of kicking on the run. The full-forwards catch the ball for a base or to kick the ball into the goal; it usually includes the marksman who needs a tall frame, good marking skills, strength and most importantly, athleticism.

• The Midfielders to act as the main link between the defending and attacking sections of the team by gaining control of the ball or disrupting the opponent's attack. The position requires the player to have strength, height, speed, good catching ability, a good kicking game and, most importantly, endurance.

• The Backs, or the backline, are the main defensive unit of the team and are divided into the full-back and the mid-back. The main purpose of the full-back is to prevent the opposing team from scoring by spoiling the mark or interfering with a goal kick and clearing the ball away; they can also perform the role of goalkeeper. Full-backs are typically tall and athletic in order to interfere with the catch. The mid-back are the outer defensive unit whose main purpose is to protect against attacking opposing players on the run or attempting to kick a mark.

Match duration

The game lasts for 80 minutes, divided into four quarters of 20 minutes with a half-time intermission from 5 to 15 minutes. Draws are settled by the "golden point" or the first point scored after full time is declared. Championship matches have a 30-minute intermission. Referees officiates the time by stopping the clock for instances such as scores, the ball going out of bounds or at the umpire's discretion, such as for serious injury. Time resumes when the referee signals time-on or when the ball is brought into play.

Gameplay

Arucian football is played according to the Rules of the Game. The game is played using a ball of 68–70 cm (27–28 in) circumference, known as the football. Two teams of eleven players each compete to get the ball to score points. The team that has scored the most points at the end of the game is the winner; if both teams have scored an equal number of points then the game, then overtime is played.

Play begins when umpire bounces the ball into the air, and two players contest for the ball in the air on its way back down. This is known as the ball-up. Only one player from each team may attempt to catch the ball; all other players must line up away from the ball-up until it hits the ground or a player gains possession. Certain disputes during play may also be settled with a ball-up from the point of contention. A serious penalty will result in free kick against the penalized team and potentially a yellow, red, or black card depending on the severity.

A player may run with the ball, but it must solo the ball every ten meters. Players solo the ball by bouncing the ball off their foot or leg back into their own hands. Opposing players may try to regain control of the ball by various methods such as intercepting a pass, swiping the ball away during a solo, or through tackling the opponent in possession of the ball. A player gains possession of the ball if it is caught or the ball is solo'd once. The ball can be propelled by any part of the body, mainly by way of a foot, with exception that it cannot be thrown under any circumstances. If a player is penalized for "throwing" the ball is turned over to the other team. Throwing is usually defined as grasping the ball with one or both hands and accelerating the ball underhand or overhand.

Contact is allowed between players, but the level of contact allowed varies on the circumstances. Opposition players may only tackle a player when they are holding the ball in their hands; when tackled, the player with possession of the ball must dispose of the ball cleanly. If the player does not dispose of the ball within a certain amount of time, including if the ball is trapped by the tackling player, then holding is called; the opposing team is then awarded a free kick. The ball carrier may only be tackled between the shoulders and knees; tackling above the shoulders and below the knees or tackling a player is not grasping the ball results in a penalty and a free kick. Only shoulder-to-shoulder contact is permitted with players who are in possession of the ball with their feet or if the player is in the middle of soloing the ball. Even laxer contact rules are enforced during marking competitions.

If a player catches a ball that was kicked over ten meters away on the full (without it touching the ground), a mark may be called. The catch must be cleanly taken, or deemed by the umpire to have involved control of the ball for sufficient time. A "self mark", where the ball is caught by the same person that kicked it is allowed, provided that the ball traveled ten meters horizontally. The player that called a mark is then awarded an uncontested free kick. Alternatively the player may pass the ball to another teammate. If they so choose, they may continue to "play on" forfeiting the mark; then normal play resumes and opponents can contest the ball again. When a player is attempting to mark the ball, opposing players are allowed to "spoil" the mark, by knocking the ball away just before the opposing player has caught the ball in their hands. Contact is allowed to contest the catch, but players are not allowed to push other players out of marking contests, make forceful contact above the shoulder, or make forceful front on contact with an opponent in a marking contest, if they are not simultaneously attempting to mark or spoil the ball.

Scoring

Scoring in Arucian football is divided into a base, goal, or single. A base, worth six points, is scored when an eligible mark is made within the inner goal area from a kick outside the outer goal area. A goal or a full goal, worth 6 points, is scored when the football is propelled through the goal posts below the crossbar by way of a kick from the attacking team. It may fly through "on the full" (without touching the ground), bounce through, or be deflected into the goal by any player or the goal posts. After a base or goal, the teams scored against will restart play with a kick-off from mid field from the scoring team.

A single is scored if ball passes between the goalposts above the crossbar. After a single, play restarts with a kick-off 10 yards perpendicular to the spot the ball crossed the goal line.